India is supportive of projects that are inclusive, transparent and respect territorial sovereignty, Modi said in a reference to China's flagship project CPEC. India is the only country out of the 8-member SCO bloc which refused to endorse China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Modi-Xi shaking hands at SCO summit in &nbsp

Qingdao: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that connectivity with the neighbourhood and with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is India’s top priority. He said India is committed to providing full cooperation to a successful outcome of the Summit. Modi floated the concept of ‘SECURE’ which stands for Security for citizens, Economic development, Connectivity in the region, Unity, Respect of sovereignty and integrity, and Environment protection.

In a reference to China's one-belt-one-road project which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Modi at the plenary session of the 18th SCO in China’s Qingdao said India is supportive of projects that are inclusive, transparent and respect territorial sovereignty. India became the only country out of the 8-member SCO bloc which did not endorse China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the flagship projects of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and therefore shunned by India at all multilateral forums.

"We have again reached a stage where physical and digital connectivity is changing the definition of geography. Therefore, connectivity with our neighbourhood & in the SCO region is our priority," PTI quoted PM Modi, who was speaking at the restricted session of the summit.

PM Modi attended the SCO summit for the first time. Both India and Pakistan were elevated as full members of the bloc last year at the Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. The SCO bloc jointly led by China and Russia is seen as a counter to US-led NATO.

"Increasing awareness of our shared cultures can help boost this number.We will organise a SCO food festival and a Buddhist festival in India," Modi was quoted by the news agency PTI.

India refuses to endorse China's OBOR, Modi says India supports projects that respect freedomDescription:India is supportive of projects that are inclusive, transparent and respect territorial sovereignty, Modi said in a reference to China's flagship project CPEC. India is the only country out of the 8-member SCO bloc which refused to endorse China's Belt and Road Initiative.Times Now